British PM apologises to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelson

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to Washington, despite his ties to the disgraced financier.

British Prime Minsiter Keir Starmer said the UK's former ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson had portrayed Jeffrery Epstein as someone he barely knew. Speaking in the English county of East Sussex, Starmer made a public apology for having believed Mandelson's lies and appointed him.

"The victims of Epstein have lived with trauma that most of us can barely comprehend. And they've had to relive it again and again. They have seen accountability delayed and too often denied. To them, I want to say this: I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you. He portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew. And when that became clear and it was not true, I sacked him. Such deceit is incompatible with public service."

Starmer fired Mandelson in September after emails were published showing he maintained a friendship with Epstein following the late financier's 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor.

Epstein died by suicide in a jail cell in 2019, while awaiting trial on US federal charges accusing him of sexually abusing dozens of girls.

Starmer never met Epstein and has not been accused of any wrongdoing. However, the prime minister is under intense pressure over the appointment after newly released documents revealed new details of Mandelson's close relationship with Epstein.

British police are investigating Mandelson over potential misconduct in public office. He is not accused of any sexual offenses.

Documents published last week by the US Department of Justice contain new revelations. These include papers suggesting Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein after the 2008 global financial crisis.

There are also scores of chatty, jokey messages pointing to a much closer relationship than Mandelson had previously disclosed.

72-year-old Mandelson has been a major, and contentious, figure in the UK's Labour Party since the 1990s. He twice had to resign from senior posts in previous administrations because of scandals over money or ethics.